How to Convert Solid 3D Designs to Flat Sheet Metal (Updated for 2024)

Forming, Precision Sheet Metal Fabrication, Sheet Metal Capabilities, Sheet Metal Design, SolidWorks Sheet Metal / 7 minutes of reading /

Last updated on June 24th, 2024 at 09:21 am

Before we can fabricate your sheet metal part, the solid 3D design file must be converted to a flat part file. Ensuring that your part flattens is crucial for avoiding common issues such as:

  • Crashing bends
  • Missing bend reliefs
  • Missing flanges

Here, we’ll review how to go from 3D model to flat sheet metal and outline the eight design tips you should follow to create 3D models that unfold.

Getting from 3D Model to Flat Sheet Metal in Sheet Metal Fabrication

As you’re probably aware, you should always begin by designing your parts as 3D models. Sure, it sounds counterintuitive, but have you ever tried designing a bend into a flat model? If so, then you’re already familiar with the resulting complications.

convert 3D Designs to flat sheet metal

The problem is that oftentimes we see engineers don’t take the step to unfold their 3D models. Many designers simply don’t know how to do it because they were never taught sheet metal fabrication techniques to the same degree as they were taught CNC machining techniques.

But here’s the thing: about 60% of the part designs we receive at the Approved Sheet Metal shop arrive with issues that unfolding the 3D model would have easily resolved. This presents a lot of opportunity to share knowledge and decrease lead time and cost associated with managing part files.

Since SOLIDWORKS is our customers’ preferred CAD software, here’s a quick primer on flattening and unfolding a 3D model in SOLIDWORKS:

How to locate the Sheet Metal toolbar:

  1. Navigate to Command Manager
  2. Choose Sheet Metal from the dropdown list

How to create a sheet metal tab:

  1. Create or choose a plane or planar face
  2. Sketch the tab on the plane to define its size
  3. Select Base Flange/Tab on the Sheet Metal toolbar

or

  1. Click Insert > Sheet Metal > Base Flange
  2. Create a tab from your sketch using the standard sheet metal thickness, or select the tab and click Edit Sketch to alter any of its dimensions

How to unfold your design:

Unfolding your sheet metal design can be very revealing! In fact, we recently declined a part because, after unfolding the design, we saw that it was way too big for our shop’s machinery. Had we neglected to unfold the part before proceeding, we could have wasted significant time moving forward with an impossible part.

Before you request a quote, use one of three simple methods to unfold your design.

  • Option 1. Right-click the part and select Flatten from the Sheet Metal toolbar to unfold it > Click Exit Flatten to refold the part
  • Option 2. Navigate to the Cut List > Select your part > Click Process Bends > Select Flatten > Click Exit Flatten to refold the part
  • Option 3. Navigate to the Sheet Metal toolbar > Select Flatten > Click Flatten again to refold the part

SOLIDWORKS Tech Tip #3: Unable to Unfold Part, Sheet Metal Bend Radius Issue Solved

8 Design Tips for Making 3D Models That Unfold

So you’ve designed a formed part and used an Unfold command to preview the part’s functionality, but—uh-oh!—the unfolding doesn’t proceed as intended. Now what?

We’ve compiled eight design tips to help you create custom metal fabrication designs that unfold successfully. Incorporate these considerations into your workflow, and you’ll soon be on track to achieve high-quality, cost-efficient, quick-turnaround parts.

1. Use the “Convert to Sheet Metal” command

You should always begin your sheet metal design from the Sheet Metal toolbar. This approach enables SOLIDWORKS to flag potential errors and saves “future you” a great deal of frustration!

If you’ve already created a solid 3D model, however, you can use the software’s Convert to Sheet Metal option to adapt the design for sheet metal fabrication. (Beware that this process isn’t always perfect since some flat parts are incredibly complex!)

2. Design with uniform thickness

It’s easy to forget that sheet metal parts must be designed with uniform thickness! For example, if your sheet is 10-gauge aluminum at 2.588 mm thick, your entire part must be designed with the same thickness.

3. Review your surface imports

However counterintuitive it may be, SOLIDWORKS will allow you to design a part that’s all surfaces with no material thickness. But even a flat part has a thickness measurement! For example, if you form a 90-degree bend in sheet metal, the part will have 10 surfaces: four flat sides plus six edges.

Take a look at your toolbar’s surface imports tree. If you see a thickness of zero, your part won’t unfold correctly. You can prevent this problem by starting your design with a solid body and uniform thickness.

4. Verify the seams

Seams are necessary for many formed sheet metal parts, as they dictate where the material will unfold.

If you’re using the Convert to Sheet Metal command, SOLIDWORKS will add seams automatically; double-check that they’re precisely where you need them!

Also, remember to note in your design whether the seams should be welded closed after forming.

5. Calculate the correct bend radii 

Use this formula to determine your part’s external bend radius:

Internal Radius + Material Thickness = External Bend Radius

Remember that there’s no such thing as a perfectly sharp right angle in sheet metal fabrication. Bending leaves at least a subtle curve at each bend point. These internal and external curves are called “bend radii.” Call out your part’s bend radii to avoid any delays or confusion at the sheet metal shop.

6. Design bend reliefs beside each bend feature

Because the bending process stretches the sheet metal, you must design bend reliefs on either side of any bend feature to prevent pulling or tearing. Bend reliefs are simply small incisions that allow a flange, for example, to move without warping the surrounding material.

Yes, bend reliefs do leave tiny holes at each corner, but our sheet metal shop can easily strengthen these corners with welding if necessary.

7. Avoid crashing features

Imagine you’ve designed your sheet metal part with a square hole at the center and four flanges bent outward from that hole, each the same size as the hole. Obviously, only one of those flanges can come from the hole’s material, right? Yet many part designs incorporate “crashing features”—such as a hole with four equally sized flanges that could only have come from the Twilight Zone.

Prevent these crashing features by designing an additional part or parts that will form the box surrounding the hole.

8. Carefully select your part’s feature locations

Aesthetics aren’t the only consideration when designing your part’s features. It’s imperative that you follow a few basic formulas to avoid warping and deformation during the forming process.

  • 4 x Material Thickness = Hole Distance from Bend
  • 4 x Material Thickness = Flange Length
  • 4 x Material Thickness = Hem Length

Get Custom Metal Fabrication Services at Approved Sheet Metal

The pros at our sheet metal shop have the DFM and SOLIDWORKS knowledge you need to ensure exceptional quality. If you have questions about using SOLIDWORKS for sheet metal design or want to verify the manufacturability of your part, we encourage you to reach out to our experienced team of engineering professionals. You can also make the most of our expertise by taking advantage of our SOLIDWORKS Resource Page and Sheet Metal DFM eBook! We’re constantly updating our Resource Page with new information to help you better understand the fundamentals of sheet metal design.

Ready to move forward with your project? Go ahead and request a quote!

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Convert Solid 3D Designs to Flat Sheet Metal FAQ

Flattening a 3D model ensures the accuracy of the flat part file, preventing common issues like crashing bends, missing bend reliefs, or flanges, which can arise during fabrication.

Approximately 60% of part designs arrive with issues that could have been resolved by unfolding the 3D model. Failure to unfold often leads to missed opportunities to streamline production, increase efficiency, and reduce costs associated with managing part files.

In SOLIDWORKS, users can access the Sheet Metal toolbar by navigating to the Command Manager, selecting "Sheet Metal" from the dropdown list, and creating sheet metal tabs using Base Flange/Tab or Insert > Sheet Metal > Base Flange options. Unfolding designs can be achieved through various methods, including right-clicking the part and selecting "Flatten" or navigating to the Cut List and choosing "Process Bends" followed by "Flatten."

Recently, we declined a part after unfolding the design, revealing its size was incompatible with our machinery. Unfolding prevented wasted time and resources by identifying an impossible part early in the process.

By using simple methods like right-clicking to flatten or using the Cut List to process bends and unfold, customers can verify the feasibility of their designs. This step prevents issues during fabrication, ensuring accurate quoting and efficient production.

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